Frame for supporting domed structures



Oct. 31, 1961 c. J. SCHMIDT FRAME FoR suPPoRTING DoMED sTRUcTUREs 2Sheets-Shet 2 Filed June 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

CLARENCE J. SCHMIDT TTORNEY United States Patent O 3 006,670 FRAlVIE FORSUPPOR'ING DOMED STRUCTURES Clarence J. Schmidt, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio,assignor to Goodyear Aircraft Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 2, 1959, Ser. No. 817,588 2 Claims. (Cl. 287--54)This invention relates to framework for supporting domed structures ofpliable sheet material and is especially useful in the construction ofdomed shelters of fabric or sheet plastic materials.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a readily assembledframework to which a flexible enclosure would be secured for support.

Another object is to provide such a framework in which the frame membersare of light weight tubing and are connected by interchangeablecouplings.

A further object is to provide a structure in which a minimum number oflengths of frame members are required.

These and other objeots will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawings forming apart hereof.

Of the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the framework showing oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

FIG. 3 is a detail face view of the framework at one of the couplingmembers, other parts being broken away.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail side view of one of the frame members.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the frame member.

Referring to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, these show a domeshaped structure of substantially spherical shape made up of framemembers connected together only at their ends and defining triangularopenings therebetween. Each frame member is shown diagrarnmatically as asingle line. It has been found that a substantially spherical frameworkmay be provided by projecting radially outward upon a spherical surfacethe points and lines comprising a pentagonal dodecahedron encompassed bythe spherical surface and also lines resulting from division of eachpentagonal face of the dodecahedron into five isosceles triangles havingas bases the sides of the pentagon and having a common apex andproviding frame members extending along and corresponding in position tothe projected lines. Such a triangular division of a spherical surfacemakes it possible to provide a strong frame structure requiring theleast number of lengths of frame members.

In the presentstructure, the enclosure is less than a hemispherenecessitating provision of such extra short or long frame members as arerequired to meet a single plane at the base of the structure.

Referring to FIG. 2 a foundation 1 is provided having anchor members 2set therein and terminating in a circle 3 at a horizontal plane 4. Fromthese anchor members 2 a network of frame members extends insubstantially spherical form, with the frame members having their endssecured to other frame members.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, each frame member comprises a tube 5 ofmetal, preferably of a light metal alloy such as aluminum or magnesiumalloy, and a pair of spherically fianged end members 6, 7 havingcylindrical shanks secured in the ends of the tube or socketed therein.The flange 8 is interruptcd and has a concave spherical end face 9. Itextends beyond the tube 5 only slghtly in a direction radial of thespherical structure and only in one direction normal to the axis of thetube With the flange extending a greater distance from the axis of thetube at one side than at the opposite side of the tube as shown in FIG.t6. In the assembly, from four to six frame and/or anchor members areassembled as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with their ends radially abutting ahollow spherical collar 10, the frame members being numbered 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16. A pair of clamp collars 17, 18 of similar construction eachhas an annularly spherically concave margin which extends over thespherical flanges of the frame members at opposite sides of thespherical collar 10 and a bolt 19 extends through the three collars toclamp the frame members in place. The bolt 19 is preferably an eyebolthaving an eye 20 whereby a pliable tent-like enclosure 21 may besuspended therefrom as at 22. As an eye-bolt is present at each couplingposition the tentf like enclosure may be suspended therefrom at eacheyebolt. In an embodiment of the invention of approximately sixty-threefeet diameter at the foundation and approximately twenty-two feetelevation, the frame members would each be from seven to nine feet longand would support the flexible enclosure at similar spacing. Ninetycouplings would be required in such an embodiment. As can be seen inFIG. 3 the provision of the interrupted spherical flange only atopposite posi- Itions and the tapering of the end members 6, 7therebetween at an included angle of about sixty degrees permitsclamping of as many as six frame members to a single coupling. As seenin FIG. 4, clearance space is provided between the spherical flanges 8and the annular channels of the clamp collars for angular adjustment inthe plane of the section of FIG. 4. This is to accommodate axialinclination of the frame members to one another at difierent positionsof the same structure and also to provide for expansion and contraction.

The spherical collars 10 are each preferably flattened at the poles asat 23 about a clearance opening 24 for receiving the eye-bolt 19. Thecollars 17, 18 each has on its clamping face a central flat circulararea 25 which is normally spaced slghtly from the flat surface 23 whenclamped, and this is surrounded by an annular groove 26 having an outerspherical face for engaging the flange 8.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a central area of pentagonalshape defined by frame members 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 is left uncoveredand no frame members extend across that area while an opening of thatsize and shape is provided in the flexible enclosure to provide aloading hopper or a ventilating area. Also, a triangular area defined byframe members 32, 33, 34 and 35 is left uncovered as a door openingadjacent the base of the structure.

The anchor members 2 may be similar to the frame members and may be ofsimilar tubing with one spherically flanged end portion, the anchormembers being set vertically about the base and connected to the framemembers by the same type of coupling members.

In constructing the structure, the anchor members are first placed atthe proper positions about a circle and may then be embedded in cementor other material; frame members are then coupled to the anchor members.Other frame members are added and coupled until the top is reached. Thepliable enclosure is then drawn into place and tied to the eye-bolts atintervals.

Thus it will be seen that the Objects of the invention have beenaccomplished and that the frame may be assembled from a small number oflengths of tubing having end flanges and a plurality of coupling membersof one size and shape.

While a certain representative embodiment and details have been shownfor the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may bemade therein without deparlting from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. VA domed frame comprising a multiplicity of frame members each havingat an end thereof a spherical retaining flange with a concave sphericalface exposed axially outward, a ball having a spherical surface againstwhich the spherical retaining fianges are seated, a pair of clampingcollars each having an annular grooved face outwardly surrounded by aconcave peripheral flange, saidV flangel having a spherical surfaceengaging over said retainingV fianges, said ball and said clampingcollars having aligned openings and having their spherical surfacesconcentn'e, and a bolt extending through the 15 aligned openings of saidclamping collars and said ball for positively clamping said framemembers against relative movement in a plurality of angular positions.

2. A domed frame comprising a spherical clamping body having an axialopening therethrough, a multiplicity of frame members each having at anend thereof a concave seat of equal radius to said clamping body andformed by a spherical fiange concentric therewith, a pair of clampingcollars each having a spherical peripheral flange slidably engaging overthe spherical fianges of said frame members to retain them in outwardlyradiating relation from the center of said spherical clamping body, anda bolt extending through said clamping collars and the axial opening insaid spherical clamping body for positively clamping the frame membersin adjusted angular positions with respect to two axes at right anglesto each other on the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,682,235 Fuller June 29, 1954 2,823,683 Smith et al. Feb. 18, 1958 VFOREIGN PATENTS 722,310 Germany July 6, 1942

